Balance In The Music Industry: a Q & A with Rachael Lampa

I am so excited to share today’s “Real Woman, Real Balance” interview with you today. I’ve been blessed to call Rachael Lampa my friend for the past 4 years. Her husband, Brendan, and my husband have been best friends since high school. The minute I met Rachael, I hoped that her and Brendan would get married. Her spirit is so bright and genuine that you can’t help but love her. I cherish the time we spend together (although there is never enough) and am honored to have her here on The Balanced Life today.

She’s a perfect fit for this series. As a popular singer/songwriter who has been in the public eye since the age of 16 she has managed to keep a strong head on her shoulders. She’s based in Nashville, Tennessee  and lives her life in the heart of the music industry. As you can imagine, being in the public eye and on stage day after day can lead to a certain amount of pressure to look or act a certain way. Yet, she manages the pressures of it all with grace and humility. She’s down to earth, lovable and has a strong sense of who she is. Read on to hear more about how Rachael maintains a sense of balance in the midst of a busy life…

When did you start your singing career?

I was 14 when I signed my first record deal and have been recording and touring ever since. It’s been about 12 years now!

At this point in your career, what do your days look like?

Every day varies depending on the season. When I’m in touring mode, my day can start anywhere from 5:00 AM depending on travel arrangements. I either wake up for a flight or on a tour bus. From there, I try to start my day with some time enjoying where I am. I’ll explore the city I’m in and find a local spot to check out :). I’ll then spend the next part of the day doing interviews and sound check. After that, showtime! Some nights are late, some aren’t. When I’m recording at home and sleeping in my own bed I can usually keep a regular schedule of waking up late morning, writing and recording most of the day and going to bed around my usual night owl hour… 12:00/1:00 AM.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I would say I’m practicing the art of being a homebody. It doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve spent most of my life on the go, but since I got married I’ve actually found a reason to be home! I love lounging with my husband, trying a new recipe, watching past episodes of Friday Night Lights :). We also belong to our local gym and try to make it an everyday trip.

As you know, The Balanced Life is all about empowering women to approach health & fitness with a balanced mindset. How do you handle the pressure in the music industry (or as a woman) to look  a certain way?

I learned early on that no matter how much I try to mimic the media’s portrayal of beauty, I’ll never quite get what I’m “going for”. The reason being, I would be going for something that doesn’t exist. The only way I could ‘win’ is if I rid myself of all inner beauty and put everything that I had into looking the part.

I decided early on in life to love what I look like and take care of myself. Of course I continue to set goals (still working on that 6 pack) but I try not to overwhelm myself with stuff that keeps me from enjoying my life and my family.

What does balance mean to you during your current season of life?

Balance for me is all relative to where I am. Since I am constantly moving and changing environments, I have to change my context of what’s normal and what’s not normal and simply adjust. I have to start each day and say to myself “today is NEW no matter what yesterday looked like or what tomorrow may look like”. Balance, to me, means walking everyday with a confidence and a grace that no matter what curve balls come my way, I know who I am and where my heart lies.

Who/what inspires you?

As a believer in Jesus, I am inspired daily by the simple words of love that are spoken in the bible. I am very inspired by my husband. He is one of those people that calms a room when he walks in. It’s profound…the way he isn’t shaken by much. I also love the words of C.S. Lewis.

What is your best tip for maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the midst of a busy life?

I try to walk and take stairs as much as possible and keep track of how it all adds up at the end of the day. Sometimes I don’t have the time to break a sweat and go through the whole shower/makeup routine so I’ll do non-sweaty workouts throughout the day. 20 squats/ lunges here and there, 30 sit ups, and best of all, stretching. I love it because you don’t stink or have to re-apply makeup afterward! Meals are the hardest for me, especially on the go, so if I HAVE to have junk food every once in a while, I make sure the next meal involves a lot of fruits and vegetables. It really is about BALANCING it all out!

What projects are you currently working on that you’d like us to know about?

I just released my latest project in September of last year called All We Need. I have already started the writing process for the next record hopefully to release end of ’12, or early ’13. I am also on the road quite a bit…

Keep track of news and dates here:
Rachaellampa.com
Facebook
Twitter: @rachaellampa

I am a huge believer and supporter of what The Balanced Life stands for! It is easy to run to unhealthy vices to feel better about ourselves. I love the idea of getting healthy in our minds and hearts along with our bodies!

Love you Robin!

Have a question for Rachael? Post it in the comments!

Pilates Body Program Update: The next round of my online Pilates training program will start on Sunday, September 9th! 6 weeks of online Pilates workouts + weekly meals plans. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter HERE to get a subscriber-only discount. You can see before & after photos HERE & HERE and read more about the program HERE. I hope you’ll join us!